Violet’s Gaming Pub logo.
Village officials held a second liquor license hearing on Wednesday (May 27) against a local gaming pub for allegedly overserving a Rolling Meadows man who was later found dead in a detention pond.
Mayor Craig Johnson, who also serves as the village liquor commissioner, suspended the license of Violet’s Gaming Pub, 1030 E. Higgins Rd., for 30 days. The suspension runs from Wednesday through June 26.
Johnson also imposed a maximum fine of $750 for each of two counts, totaling $1,500, placed the establishment’s license on probation for six months, and mandated that at least two employees — a bartender and a manager — be on duty at all times the pub is open.
Under the order, Violet’s must immediately report any intoxicated patrons to police and cooperate fully with law enforcement. Johnson said that during the initial police investigation, Violet’s was reluctant to surrender surveillance video from March 10. The mayor defined “intoxicated” as anyone who is impaired in any way for driving.
Yellow crime scene tape surrounds an elk statue a retention pond at death investigation site along Higgins Road on Thursday, April 9, 2026. (Journal photo)
Alexis Ramirez, 26, went missing March 10 following a single-vehicle crash near a pond at Higgins Road and Brennan Boulevard. His body was recovered from the pond April 9.
Johnson said Ramirez’s blood alcohol content was 0.259%, more than three times the legal driving limit. The Cook County Medical Examiner’s Office ruled the cause of death as drowning.
“While at Violet’s, the deceased victim was showing clear signs of intoxication and was struggling to sit, stand, and leave the premises,” Johnson said during the initial hearing. “Violet’s failed to report the visibly intoxicated victim… (who) was operating a motor vehicle immediately after leaving the premises.”
During Wednesday’s hearing, Johnson told attorneys for Violet’s, “If I was the family of that young man, I’d have a damn good dram shop attorney.”
Dram shop laws hold establishments that serve alcohol liable for certain actions taken by overserved patrons.
The first liquor hearing was held May 7, but was delayed because attorneys for Violet’s were new to the case.
Reporters for the Journal & Topics filed an Illinois Freedom of Information Act request for the video referenced during the May 7 hearing. Elk Grove Village police denied the public records request, stating the video remains part of an ongoing investigation and that its release would constitute an unwarranted invasion of privacy.
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